Abstract: A turbine outlet frozen gas capture apparatus is provided and includes an enclosure divided into first and second chambers, the first chamber being receptive of turbine outlet exhaust including frozen gas, a wheel disposed and configured to be rotatable such that frozen gas received in the first chamber is captured and transported into the second chamber and a heater disposed within the second chamber and configured to vaporize the frozen gas transported therein to thereby produce vaporized gas.

Abstract: A contaminate control device for filtering contaminates from a gas such as air is provided. The device includes a housing having a first inlet and a first outlet. An axial flow filter is fluidly coupled between the first inlet and the first outlet, the axial flow filter has a second inlet and a second outlet. A second filter disposed about the axial flow filter and is fluidly coupled between the first inlet and the first outlet, the second filter having a third inlet on an inner diameter and a third outlet disposed on an outer diameter. A flow restrictor is fluidly coupled between the second inlet and the first inlet.

Abstract: A vortex separator includes a vortex chamber having a circular cross section, an inlet for delivering a fluid to the vortex chamber, a gas outlet through which gas present in the fluid exits the vortex chamber, a membrane positioned to substantially prevent liquid from passing through the gas outlet, and a liquid outlet through which liquid present in the fluid exits the vortex chamber.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a heat transfer system comprises a heat transfer fluid circulation loop. The heat transfer system includes a heat exchanger disposed in the heat transfer fluid circulation loop. The heat transfer fluid is an aqueous solution having a pH of 7.8 to 8.0 that comprises from 1.00 wt. % to 1.20 wt. % of a buffer composition comprising sodium and/or potassium salts of borate, carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, from 0.40 wt. % to 0.60 wt. % of a straight chain aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, from 0.90 wt. % to 1.10 wt. % of a branched aliphatic carboxylic acid, from 0.40 wt. % to 0.60 wt. % of an aromatic carboxylic acid, from 0.04 wt. % to 0.08 wt. % of a molybdate salt, and from 0.01 wt. % to 0.03 wt. % of an aldehyde biocide, based on the total weight of the heat transfer fluid.

Abstract: A liquid depth-operated valve assembly for use in a zero gravity environment includes a Pitot pump disposed within a centrifugal separator configured to separate an air and a liquid from one another. Also included is a Pitot opening disposed at a first radial location relative to a substantially central location of the centrifugal separator. Further included is a depth-sensing port disposed at a second radial location along the Pitot pump, the second radial location disposed radially inwardly of the first radial location, the depth-sensing port in operative communication with a valve.

Abstract: A permanent magnet electric machine includes a rotor having a plurality of permanent magnets and a stator in magnetic communication with the rotor and positioned defining a radial air gap between the rotor and the stator. A housing is configured to seal the rotor and the stator from an outside environment. A pumping element is configured to urge a closed loop airflow across the plurality of permanent magnets to remove thermal energy therefrom, and a plurality of cooling channels are located in the housing and are configured to transfer thermal energy from the stator to a flow of fluid coolant through the plurality of cooling channels. A heat exchanger is located in thermal communication with the plurality of cooling channels to transfer thermal energy from the airflow to the fluid coolant.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first plate and a second plate connected to the first plate to define a duct between the first plate and the second plate. At least one elastic cooling fin is disposed inside the duct between the first plate and the second plate. The at least one elastic fin exerts a load on the first plate.

Abstract: A driving circuit includes first through N-th selective operation driving portions selectively producing first through N-th selective operation driving signals, a selection circuit selectively driving the first through the N-th selective operation driving portions in response to an input signal and a control signal, and a supplying arrangement combining the first through the N-th selective operation driving signals to supply a combined driving signal to a solid-stage image pickup device. An n-th selective operation driving portion includes (M×2(n-1)) P-channel FETs connected in parallel with each other and (M×2(n-1)) N-channel FETs connected in parallel with each other. The (M×2(n-1)) P-channel FETs have drains connected to drains of the (M×2(n-1)) N-channel FETs.

Abstract: An imaging system comprises a wide field of view (FOV) telescope, a narrow FOV telescope, a spectrometer, an imaging detector, an image slicer, and a selection mechanism. The wide FOV telescope is configured to produce a one-dimensional optical image of a broad field of view (FOV) F. The narrow FOV telescope is configured to produce a two-dimensional optical image of a narrow FOV f. The spectrometer is configured to produce a spectrum of a one-dimensional image, and the imaging detector is configured to capture that spectrum. The image slicer is configured to break the two-dimensional optical image into a series of one-dimensional segments. The selection mechanism operable in either of two modes: a wide FOV mode transmitting the one-dimensional optical image to the spectrometer, and a zoom mode transmitting a one-dimensional concatenation of the series of one-dimensional segments to the spectrometer.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a micro-channel that defines a plane. A plurality of drive electrodes is located on a first side of the plane. At least one ground electrode is operable to establish an electric potential with the plurality of drive electrodes. An array of electrochemical biosensors is located on a second, opposite side of the plane.

Abstract: A device including a structural member having a heat spreader and an electronic device mounted directly to a first surface of the heat spreader of the structural member. The device also includes a cold plate mounted directly to the first surface of the heat spreader of the structural member.

Abstract: A spacecraft payload element is rotated by a mechanism about virtual pivot point (VPP) substantially distant from the mechanism. The mechanism couples the payload element to a spacecraft main body structure, and has a four-bar linkage configured to rotate the payload element about a virtual pivot point (VPP). The VPP may be proximate to the focus or center of gravity (cg) of the payload element. Rotation of the payload element about the VPP may be controlled by linear or rotary actuators which drive the four-bar linkage. The four-bar linkage may be configured to provide a mechanical advantage to the actuator.

Abstract: A high capacity broadband service is provided from an Earth orbiting satellite having a payload that includes multiple large antennas, the satellite having an inverted configuration when deployed on orbit. The satellite has an aft surface proximate to a launch vehicle structural interface, a forward surface opposite to said aft surface, and a structure disposed therebetween. In a launch configuration, two or more deployable antennas are disposed, undeployed, on or proximate to and forward of the forward surface; on-orbit, the payload is operable when the satellite is disposed with the aft surface substantially Earth facing while the forward surface is substantially facing in an anti-Earth direction. Each deployable antenna is disposed, so as to be Earth facing, when deployed, in a position substantially forward and outboard of the forward surface.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling remote devices includes two networked computers. The first computer displays a first file that is stored on the first computer and the second computer displays a second file that is stored on the second computer. The computers send non-graphical commands back and forth to page up or down, zoom, or pan the displayed files in response to commands input into either of the computers. This allows an operator at either computer to view output corresponding to the commands input into the other computer. The first and second files are essentially the same and are retained on the respective computers, so there is no need to send relatively large graphical data packets over the network. Use of relatively small non-graphical data packets reduces the network bandwidth used.

Abstract: Spacecraft transfer orbit operations include separating a spacecraft from a launch vehicle, while in a launch vehicle transfer orbit. The spacecraft includes a propulsion subsystem and a spacecraft controller that controls the spacecraft in a three-axis stabilized mode. With the spacecraft continuously in the three-axis stabilized mode, one or more orbit raising maneuvers are performed by firing either or both of a chemical thruster and an electric thruster firing. Any two consecutive orbit raising maneuvers are separated by a respective intervening coast period. While in the three-axis stabilized mode, the spacecraft does not rotate about any axis at a rate greater than 0.1 degree/sec and dumping of momentum stored in a reaction wheel system is avoided.

Abstract: A multiplexer includes a filter channelizer having at least two output filters, each output filter being coupled with a respective hybrid coupler. The multiplexer channelizes an input radio frequency (RF) band of electromagnetic energy into a set of output ports. Each hybrid coupler includes an input port (port 1), two output ports and an isolated port (port 4). Each output filter is coupled to a first one of the two output ports of a respective hybrid coupler, a second one of the two output ports being connected to an open stub microstrip transmission line. The respective hybrid coupler is coupled in a daisy chain, by way of port 1 and port 4, with one or more of the input of the multiplexer, and at least one other hybrid coupler. Advantageously, each output channel may include no more than one filter and no more than one hybrid coupler.

Abstract: A directionally-controlled roll-out elastically deployable solar array structure is disclosed. The structure includes one or more longitudinal elastic roll out booms that may be closed section or open section to allow for efficient rolled packaging onto a lateral mandrel. A flexible photovoltaic blanket is attached to a tip structure and to a lateral base support structure, but remains uncoupled from the longitudinal booms. The solar array system may be stowed simultaneously into a rolled package comprised of the roll out booms and the flexible planar blanket together, or onto independent rolls. Alternatively, the system may be stowed by rolling the booms, and accordion Z-folding the hinged flexible photovoltaic blanket into a flat stack. Structural deployment is motivated by the elastic strain energy of the roll out booms, and several methods of deployment direction control are provided to ensure a known, controlled, and unidirectional deployment path of the elastically unrolling booms.

Abstract: A resonant circuit, configured to operate at a resonant frequency, includes a first arrangement providing a first equivalent capacitance ‘C’ and a second arrangement providing a first inductance. The first arrangement includes a quantity of ‘n’ capacitive elements connected in parallel, n being at least two, each of the n capacitive elements having a nominal capacitance approximately equal to C/n. The resonant frequency may exceed 1 GHz, the first equivalent capacitance may be at least 3 pF, and a composite Q factor of the first arrangement may be greater than 800. Whereas a single capacitive element having a capacitance of C may exhibit a Q factor equal to ‘Q1’, the composite Q factor of the first arrangement may be equal to ‘Q2’ where Q2 is substantially higher than Q1.

Abstract: Techniques for detachably joining a first component and a second component includes a band clamp, a tensioning device, a plurality of shoes, and a plurality of brackets. The band clamp is configured to cause the plurality of shoes to engage an abutting cylindrical flange of each of the first component and the second component and to provide a sufficient clamping pressure to join the first component with the second component. Each of the plurality of brackets is attached to one of the first component and the second component. The sufficient clamping pressure results from redundant, independently inspectable, sources, a primary redundant source being circumferential tension in the band clamp, caused by tightening the tensioning device, to produce a first radial restraining force on the shoes, and a secondary redundant source being a second radial restraining force, applied by way of the plurality of brackets, to the band clamp.

Abstract: A multi-stage centrifugal fan is provided and includes first and second stages of a rotor having substantially axially aligned rotor vanes formed to impart energy to a fluid moving in an outward radial direction when the first and second stages of the rotor rotate about a centerline and a stator having stator vanes radially interposed between and substantially axially aligned with the first and second stage rotor vanes.